Clapboard gage and marker



(No Model.)

Y W. Si. MGORBA.

GLAPBOARD GAGE AND MARKER.

No. 533,914. Patented Feb. 12, 1895,.

` the said face.

NITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM s. MocnEA, or PATTENEURG, NEW JERSEY.

CLAPBOARD GAGE AND MARKER.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,914, datedFebruary 12, 1895. Y

Application tiled February 28, 1894:. Serial No. 501,832. (No model.)

V'To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MCCREA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pattenburg, in the county of Hunterdon and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and useful Clapboard Gage and Marker, ofwhich the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to that class ofl clap board gages and markerswherein a longitudinally movable marker-blade is employed and providedwith means whereby it may be reciprocated against the work andconsequently act thereon; and my primary object is to provide superiormeans for edecting this reciprocation, whereby the marking can be donemore efliciently and in less time than before. Further objects arecontemplated such as simplicity and cheapness, and all will be apparentupon an understanding of my invention.

To this end the invention consists of certain improved features ofconstruction and combination and arrangement of parts which will be morefully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 represents a perspective View ofmy appliance in use; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3, across section; Fig. 4, a detailed perspective View of the operatinglever; Fig. 5, a similar View of a portion of theframe having thefrontal plateremoved; Fig. 6, a similar view of the blade.

The frame of my device consists of a handle portion ahaving the arms aand front or gage section a2. This portion consists of a verticallyextending bar having a plane front face b and the forwardly projectinglugs b', which lugs are adapted to bear against the edges of the clapboards and thereby hold the device stationary while operating. Locatedon the front face b of the section a2 is the frontal plate c, which isof such a length that it will iit snugly between the lugs b and of awidth which will permit'it to entirely cover This plate vis providedwith the two inwardly extending bolts c', which have their headscounter-sunk and immovably secured in the plate, and project through theopenings d of the section or bar a2. The openings d are one for eachbolt and have their front portion formed with an enlarged chamber CZtherein, in which is arranged the spiral spring e. Springs e embracetheir respective bolts and bear against the shoulder of the openings eand the side ofthe plate c, and operate to give the plate a normaltendency outward. The tendency is controlled and the plate preventedfrom moving too far outward by means of the bolt c', which extendthrough bar a2 and are provided with nuts 02,' whereby they areprevented from passing back.

f indicates the marking blade, which is provided with the toothed edge fand longitudinally elongated slots f2. The edge f is constructed withits teeth sloping backwardly, in relation to the line of movementinwhich the blade travels when marking the boards, whereby a clean cutismade and the boards not torn or gashed. The blade f is located on theleft hand side of the bar a2 and with its edge f Hush with thecorresponding edge of the plate c and a distance to the rear of saidedge, when pressed out by springs e.,

about one eighth of an inch. By this construction the edge f is normallyprotected, but when plate c is pressed in the edge will be exposed andin position to act on the board. All of this will be understood lateron. The platefis held in place and allowed its longitudinal movement bymeans of the studs g, which project out from the side of bar a2 andthrough the openings f2 in the plate. Thus the plate is held capable ofa limited longitudinal movement but incapable of movement in any otherdirection.

The blade f is reciprocated by means of the bent lever h, which isfulcrumed at its bend by the pin h', which is inturn arranged in thehandle bar a of the frame. The long arm of the lever h extendsapproximately parallel with the handle bar and for very nearly itsentire length, and is provided with the spring z', whereby it is given anormal tendency upward. The short arm, g', of the lever h, extends upparallel with the upper arm a. and into a recess k in the bar a2. Herethe arm is provided with a stud la which projects out of the opening andinto the elongated slot 'm of the blade f. This slot is elongatedtransversely across the blade and is necessarily constructed so in orderthat the end of arm g be allowed to swing in the arc of a circle IOS)and the blade f to move in a straight line. This will be apparent and nofurther description of this point is thought to be necessary. Thus itwill be seen that the bladef may be reciprocated within the limit of itsslots f2, by pressing down on the long arm of lever 7L, and that thespring 'L' will effect an immediate return as soon as the arm aforesaidis released.

The use of my invention is shown by Fig. 1, and will be well understood.

IVhen it is desired to mark on a clap-board the point at which it is tobe sawed ott, my device is placed at right angles to the board and withthe lng b', toward which the arrow points, in engagement with one of itsedges. The device is then moved to the desired point and the long arm oflever h depressed. This will be followed by a swinging movement of thearm g and a consequent movement of the bladef in the direction of thearrow I, thus marking a line across the board. Vhen this has beenaccomplished, the long arm of lever 7L should be released, whereupon thespring rl will reverse the operation just described and cause the bladef to move in the direction of arrow II. This will place the parts intheir normal position and the appliance will he ready for a secondoperation.

It will be understood that the device may 3o be used for marking variousother kinds of timbers, and it is not limited to gaging clapboards.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

In a device for marking clap boards, the combination of a frame, a platemounted thereon and having a limited lateral movement, a spring fornormally pressing the plate outwardly, a reciprocating markerbladearranged parallel With the plate and alongside the same and with itsmarking edge to the rear of the plate when pressed out by the spring, abent lever connected to the blade, whereby the blade is reci procatedand a spring forgiving the lever and hence the blade a normal tendency,the said plate being adapted to be pressed inwardly thus exposing themarking edge of the blade and allowing it to operate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. MCCREA.

Witnesses:

W. A. REEVES, B. V. LEIGH.

